Sens win against Bruins could reset their season

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators are one game away from hitting the reset button after a disappointing start to their 2010-2011 campaign.

Wins this week over a tired squad with a journeyman backup netminder and an Eastern Conference bottom-feeder are one thing, but knocking off the red hot Boston Bruins could convince even the most skeptical observer that a turnaround is at hand.

Standing between the Senators and a .500 record Saturday night is a brick wall that goes by the human name Tim Thomas.

As if his history of utterly dominating the Senators (11-3-1 record with three shutouts over the last three seasons) isn’t enough, he’s currently putting together a nice highlight package for Vezina Trophy voters. Already at 5-0-0 this season, Thomas is sporting a sparkling .981 save percentage and 0.60 goals against average.

The news isn’t all bad for the Senators, however. Centre Jason Spezza, who missed the last four games with a groin injury, was back practicing with his teammates Friday morning and should be ready to step back into the lineup.

Both he and his teammates know what they’re up against, but feel they made great strides in consecutive wins over the Phoenix Coyotes and Florida Panthers.

“Timmy Thomas seems like he’s really back in form and they’re a big physical team,” Spezza said after practice. “They’ve got (former Senator Zdeno Chara) and some good forward lines and they’re definitely a little bit of a measuring stick now for the East.”

His seat in the press box gave him a bird’s-eye view of two different Senators teams this week.

“The first couple of games I watched on top, it looks like we didn’t have the puck a lot,” he said. “You can tell guys are working really hard, but it looks like you’re not because you’re chasing all the time and you’re always behind.”

“Whereas the last two games, we’ve cycled a lot, we’ve had the puck a lot more and that, in turn, makes the other team look like they’re tired and chasing.”

Spezza agreed the Senators have to make life uncomfortable for Thomas to have any success.

“He does a great job of finding the puck and not giving up a lot of rebounds, so you do have to try and get some traffic and get some ugly ones on him.”

The playmaking centre’s return gives coach Cory Clouston the kind of problem he likes to have: How to shuffle the lines when all the lines are clicking?

Spezza spends most of his time with Milan Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson on his wings, but those two have gelled nicely with the hard-skating Mike Fisher of late.

Alfredsson, who ranked sixth in league scoring (12 points) heading into last night’s slate of games, explained the difference each pivot makes.

“I find it easy to play with Fish…as with Spezza,” he said. “I think we’re maybe a little bit more of a forechecking, cycling line than when I play with Spezza, where it’s a little bit more puck control, puck possession maybe. It’s a different style, but I enjoy both.”

Punting enigmatic winger Alex Kovalev to the fourth line was easy when he was struggling to produce on offence, but he has three goals and an assist in his last two games playing with youngsters Peter Regin and Nick Foligno.

Could he wind up with Spezza? No. 19 said he wouldn’t mind that setup, scoffing at critics who contend their puck-possession styles don’t mesh.

“I feel like we haven’t really played much together, so that’s a tough judgment to make,” he said. “Alfie likes the puck a lot too and we play well together, so I don’t know if there’s much to that theory.

“Kovie’s playing real well right now and there could be some chemistry there between us,” he continued. “Right now I just want to get back in the lineup.”

Coach Cory Clouston was non-committal about his trios, but said it’ll be critical for the players who stepped up in Spezza’s absence to continue their elevated play no matter how it shakes out.

LECLAIRE SKATES

Just 48 hours after Pascal Leclaire was thought to have suffered a setback in his recovery from a groin strain, the No. 1 goalie was skating with his teammates Friday morning. He hit the ice early, then took shots for about 20 minutes before heading back into the dressing room.

SENS ARMY

The Senators just seem to play better when they have the Canadian military backing them. More than 3,500 members and their families will be on hand Saturday for the seventh annual Canadian Forces Appreciation night at Scotiabank Place. Each year, the team, its corporate sponsors and season seat-holders donate tickets to the cause, and the nice gesture has paid off on the ice — the Senators have never lost a game in regulation on those nights (5-0-1).

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.